Week 11 - Jan 15 to 21

[bbsamjj]

Meanwhile, two HUGE games in the Pac12 tonight:

UCLA @ Colorado
USC @ Utah

 

[LoTrader]

I can't imagine how good Duke would be if they had some solid BIGs. Duke's young guard core is impressive.

 

[DefenseBB]

This season is really turning into a battle of attrition. Anyone getting thru the year with their stars and/or most of their roster intact will have a big advantage in the post season.

I watched this game from tip off and the whole reason Virgina Tech jumped out to an early lead was the fact Duke was so inept on the offensive side of the ball. They scored 7 points in the 1st quarter-heck, they only had 1 point with 2:38 left in the quarter before turning in on with a 6 point burst.

Duke found their mojo in the second and then kept it going in the 3rd. I think VPI is missing Kayana Traynor and Taylor Soule a lot more than they would ever want to admit. The Kitley/Amoore combo is more "sizzle" than actual meat and while Kitley is playing fine, despite the weekly announcers touting Ms. Amoore, she shooting very poorly at 40.9% and at 30.9% from the 3 point arc. Let me repeat that so it sinks in she's 42-136 from 3 point land (30.9%). That is simply creating empty offensive possessions. As a team they shoot it pretty well a 36.9%. This offense needs help and VPI will not fare nearly as well this year as they did last year in either the ACC Tournament or the NCAAT. Duke on the other hand, is showing signs of l;ife, albeit at home so let's see if they can maintain this effort. Thanks for motivating them @triaddukefan

 

[triaddukefan]

ESPN Gamecast showed VA within 8 on ND and then the Irish pulled away. FSU might have a bit of revenge on their minds after the loss to Syracuse. Let's see if Duke can keep it up. VA Tech vs Clemson? Well, VA Tech was averaging 80 PPG before yesterday's loss.

Since this tweet. Georgia Tech scored 46 and VPI scored 46. So the only team that scored above their season average on us has been.... CLEMSON

Duke has the #2 defense in the country according to Massey. SCAR is #1.

 

[LETTERL]

Since this tweet. Georgia Tech scored 46 and VPI scored 46. So the only team that scored above their season average on us has been.... CLEMSON

Duke has the #2 defense in the country according to Massey. SCAR is #1.

Then Duke is catching NC State at a good time. We couldn't hit water from a boat Thursday night against Miami...I just cannot imagine NC State shooting that poorly again in front of 5500 home fans

 

[cancontent]

I watched this game from tip off and the whole reason Virgina Tech jumped out to an early lead was the fact Duke was so inept on the offensive side of the ball. They scored 7 points in the 1st quarter-heck, they only had 1 point with 2:38 left in the quarter before turning in on with a 6 point burst.

Duke found their mojo in the second and then kept it going in the 3rd. I think VPI is missing Kayana Traynor and Taylor Soule a lot more than they would ever want to admit. The Kitley/Amoore combo is more "sizzle" than actual meat and while Kitley is playing fine, despite the weekly announcers touting Ms. Amoore, she shooting very poorly at 40.9% and at 30.9% from the 3 point arc. Let me repeat that so it sinks in she's 42-136 from 3 point land (30.9%). That is simply creating empty offensive possessions. As a team they shoot it pretty well a 36.9%. This offense needs help and VPI will not fare nearly as well this year as they did last year in either the ACC Tournament or the NCAAT. Duke on the other hand, is showing signs of l;ife, albeit at home so let's see if they can maintain this effort. Thanks for motivating them @triaddukefan

Thought their incoming transfers of Ekh and Michaux would provide the depth they were looking for. Ekh seems to have regressed even more from her sophomore season at Mich State. Michaux isn't providing much of anything either from my perspective.

 

[Bone Dog]

Here's my predictions for this week:

• UConn -- 2 wins
• Villanova upsets Marquette
• Vanderbilt beats Auburn, loses to Tennessee
• Indiana -- 2 wins
• UNC -- 2 wins
• USC -- 2 losses
• Stanford beats Oregon, loses to Ore St
• tOSU upsets Iowa, loses to MD
• Virginia upsets ND
• Duke upsets NC St

So far, for the first half of the week, I'm 4 for 6. I missed the Duke upset of Va Tech, which is a shame. Now all the heavy calls come over the next three days.

 

[LoTrader]

So far, for the first half of the week, I'm 4 for 6. I missed the Duke upset of Va Tech, which is a shame. Now all the heavy calls come over the next three days.

What is your call on the Villanova-Creighton cage match?

 

[DefenseBB]

Villanova is a very schizophrenic team. Stat wise, they have a pathetic offense that needs Lucy Olsen to behave like a poor man's Caitlin Clark, hoisting 20 shots a game to stay competitive. They did just beat Marquette at home when Marquette blew the game. I don't think they can beat Creighton who has more consistent scorers and a better inside presence than what Nova can defend.

 

[Plebe]

UCLA outscored Colorado 44-33 in the second half to pull out a tough win in Boulder. Betts was a major difference maker down the stretch.

Lots of fouls called, lots of free throws. UCLA was 24-30 and Colorado was 18-24 from the charity stripe. Almost half of the made shots were free throws.

 

[Bone Dog]

What is your call on the Villanova-Creighton cage match?

Sorry, I didn't have any insight into that one. Olsen Dalce Runyan and Burke are certainly capable of turning a BB game in to a hockey game.

But I may turn out to be right about the USC game which I pegged as a loss to Utah. Just looking at the boxscore, the problem may be that Juju hasn't gone to the free throw line enough. I'll have to wait for the replay to really see. And Pili has 32 points on a practically Paige-ian efficiency of 12-15 shooting.

 

[Plebe]

Utah finally with a very badly needed quality win. Before tonight their best wins were over Cal and St. Joseph's.

 

[maple]

Two more upsets today, and one of them wasn't even close. Let’s see what the weekend brings.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Looks like it was a big night in the Missouri Valley. That league is quickly separating into the haves and the have nots. Among the leaders Drake beat Belmont by 4 and Northern Iowa drubbed Murray St. by 20. Those 4 all have 1 or less losses. Missouri St. is also 5-1 and Illinois St. 4-2.

 

[hoopsnloops32]

I remain skeptical of USC. Juju is excellent for a freshman but the rest o that team struggles with basics across the board. I just don’t see a top 10 team.

 

[Vowelguy]

Baylor in a close one with a pretty bad UCF squad. Late in first half.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Baylor in a close one with a pretty bad UCF squad. Late in first half.

The wheels really came off that bus in a hurry.

 

[nwhoopfan]

K State about to pass their first test after losing Lee to injury. Putting the finishing touches on beating a Kansas team who seems to have woken up recently.

 

[GoChips20]

So who had K-State at 18-1?

 

[nwhoopfan]

Minnesota is hammering Michigan St.

Okay, I officially give up on predicting ANYTHING that happens in the Big 10. It's impossible.

 

[visitingcock]

The wheels really came off that bus in a hurry.

Halftime scores are not reliable enough for such an assertion but you may be proven right. UCF by 2 at the half

 

[Plebe]

K State about to pass their first test after losing Lee to injury. Putting the finishing touches on beating a Kansas team who seems to have woken up recently.

Taiyanna Jackson left the game with an injury in the 1st half and didn't return. Kansas kept it close, cut it to 3 in 4Q but couldn't get over the hump.

I don't think KSU without Ayoka will be able to go the next 4 weeks without at least a couple losses. Four of their next 6 games are on the road at Baylor, Oklahoma, Texas and Iowa State.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Halftime scores are not reliable enough for such an assertion but you may be proven right. UCF by 2 at the half

Baylor may win, but the fact they are struggling in this game after having lost the previous 2 (one in blowout fashion) seems a pretty clear indication something has changed since a 14-0 start.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Taiyanna Jackson left the game with an injury in the 1st half and didn't return. Kansas kept it close, cut it to 3 in 4Q but couldn't get over the hump.

I don't think KSU without Ayoka will be able to go without at least a couple losses in the next 4 weeks.

Shoot, didn't know about Jackson. Yet another injury.

Yeah, certainly don't expect K State to run the table the rest of the way. But great start.

 

[Plebe]

Shoot, didn't know about Jackson. Yet another injury.

Yeah, certainly don't expect K State to run the table the rest of the way. But great start.

I didn't see the injury, but the commentators said near the end of the game that she may have either lost a tooth or cut her lip. Certainly not pleasant, but it doesn't sound like the kind of injury that would force a prolonged absence.